Boltless rail-joint.



J. H. BZARD.

BOLTLESS RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, m1.

1,026,791 Patented May 21,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

MUN-IA WRAP" CO" WASHINGTON D C J. H. 'BZARD.

BOLTLESS RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION rum) BBPT.30,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7 1,026,791 Patented May 21, 1912.

, awuom io'n WM MQ 6 z a T'J JACOB H. EZARD, OF HOCKING, IOWA.

BOLTLESS RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 30, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Serial No. 652,029.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB H. Exam), a citizen of the United States, residing at Hocking, in the county of Monroe and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boltless Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw- 1ngs.

This invention relates to rail joints, and more particularly to a rail joint that eliminates the necessity of bolts to hold the ends of the rails securely together.

' The main object of this invention is to provide a means for joining the ends of railway rails in such a manner as to entirely avoid the use of bolts and the like, and to provide at the same time a rail joint which will be perfectly capable of withstanding the ordinary strain put upon it.

i A further object of this invention is to have the means referred to such that they can be applied readily, quickly and cheaply.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rail joint which will eliminate the use of fish-plates.

Still another object is to have the various parts of this joint of a construction which can be readily, and cheaply manufactured.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as it is more fully set forth.

The ordinary rail joint necessitates the use of bolts and nuts, which are a source of expense both in their manufacture and installing, and have the disadvantages in that they readily work loose when the rails on which they are used are used at all frequently. This invention avoids the use of bolts, and is provided with means which will hold the ends of the rails securely together, so as to make them capable of withstanding the strains put upon them, and at the same time, able to be readily disconnected when it is so desired.

In the drawings which show by way of example an embodiment of this invention, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a rail embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rail ends embodying this invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are end elevations of the rails. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of one of the rail ends. Fig. 6 is a detail of the locking member for said ends, and Fig. 7 is a detail of the means for holding said looking member in position and for reinforcing the joint.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown in the drawings, 1 represents one end portion of a rail, that is provided with a projecting piece 2 which has its outer end portion 3 diminished in size and made V-shaped, as is clearly shown in the drawings. This projecting end is arranged to fit in the end portion of the adjacent rail which is slotted suitably for the purpose. The slotted portions are designated by the reference characters 4 and 5. The portion 2 is also V-shaped at its bottom portion so as to fit closely within the adjacent rail end. This projection and the slots referred to are in the upper portion of the rails as is clearly shown.

The lower portion of the rails is slotted to receive a member 6, which is shown in detail in Fig. 6, and which has its end portions 7 of a larger cross section than its central portion 8 which has its lower portion of rectangular cross sectionand its upper portion V-shaped, as can be seen in the drawings. In order to provide the rails for the above slots, their web portion is slightly enlarged at the ends as is clearly shown at 10 and 11 on the drawings. This enlargement not only strengthens the end, but makes a more secure joint as it increases the abutting surface of the same. After the locking member 6 is placed in position in the rail ends, a clampingmember12is slipped on the rail at some distance from the rail joint, tions 13 and 14 widened in order that the member 12 will be held securely thereon. The hole or slot into which the end portion 7 projects is preferably lengthened in order to allow for expansion in the rail.

The member 12 is preferably made of sheet metal, bent into the form shown in Fig. 7 This construction provides two end portions 15, and a central portion and angular bent portions 17 at each side of the central portion, so that they will readily engage with the bottom. portions of the rails, and in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Suitable holes are provided in the end portions 15 for the purpose of receiving spikes or bolts for securing the member 12 to the sleepers or road-bed, should it be desirable.

The ends of the rails are locked by bringing their ends together and fitting their end portions to one another as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. After this operation is performed, the key or member 6 is placed underneath the rails, so that its end portions 7 and its central V-shaped web will engage in the respective slots provided in the rail ends for them. The member 6 is further locked in position by slipping the plate 15 under the same, and in a manner clearly shown in the figures referred to. The plate 15 also serves for the purpose of holding the rails on to the sleepers, and also assists in locking the rails ends together and reinforcing them against transverse movement.

It can be readily noted that such a joint can be quickly placed in operation, and that it is perfectly capable of withstanding the severe service of railway work, and at the same time its comparative cost is not high.

Obviously while there is shown but one form of this invention in the drawings, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to the same, or in any other way otherwise than necessitated by the priorart, as many modifications in the construct-ion of this invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is The combination with a rail provided with a socket having vertical walls and a V-shaped bottom, a portion of said socket being sunk deeper into said rail, another socket having vertical walls and a portion of the bottom of the last mentioned socket provided with a V-shaped bottom and the remaining portion relatively flat and at right angles to said walls, the portion of said sockets having a flat bottom being disposed deeper in said rail than that having the V-shaped bottom, of a second rail hav ing a tongue adapted to fit closely into the first mentioned socket, and a socket similar to the second mentioned socket of the first mentioned rail, a locking member arranged to fit into the last mentioned sockets of said rails for locking said rails together, and a plate having portions arranged to engage with the lower web of the rails in question, for locking said member in position, and for aifording means for attaching said rails to a sleeper.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB H. EZARD. Witnesses:

NELLIE ADEY, THOS. W. WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

